• BASIC PRINCIPLES & ANATOMY • ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF NORMAL DEGLUTITION • DISORDERS OF DEGLUTITION (SIGNS & SYMPTOMS &

NEUROLOGIC DISEASE)

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Swallowing Study Guide 1  

I. Definition of Dysphagia: difficulty moving food from mouth to stomach. a. 6% incidence (# of new cases in a population over a period of

time) b. 22% prevalence >50years (% of population with dysphagia at a

certain time) II. Signs vs. Symptoms

a. Sign: What clinician identifies/observes (i.e. reduced laryngeal elevation)

b. Symptom: What a patient reports (i.e. shivering chills) III. Dysphagia: difficulty moving food from mouth to stomach

IV. Deglutition: Swallowing

V. Aspiration: bolus falls below the vocal folds.

VI. Penetration: bolus enters the larynx; stops at level of vocal folds.

VII. Bolus: bite of food/sip of liquid

VIII. Masticate: to chew

IX. Residue: Food/liquid left over after a swallow.

X. Pneumonia: disease resulting from food getting into the lungs and hosting bacteria.

XI. Complications of Dysphagia a. Pneumonia b. Malnutrition c. Dehydration d. Depression e. Social Restriction f. Anxiety g. Developmental deficits

XII. Signs & Symptoms of Dysphagia a. Inability to recognize food b. Difficulty in putting food in mouth c. Inability to control food/saliva in mouth

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d. Frequent coughing toward end or after meal e. Weight loss f. Gurgle vocal quality g. Patient complains of swallowing difficulty h. Runny Nose (rhinorrhea) i. Sneezing j. Residue observed in mouth

XIII. Anatomy Review: Memorize these structures (labeling)

a.

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b.

c.

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d. e. The 3 Constrictors: Superior, Medial & Inferior

i. Bulge down with base of tongue to squeeze down bolus f. Pharyngoesophageal Segment (PES)

i. AKA Cricopharyngeal m., Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) OR Cricopharyngeal CP region. PES=UES=CP

ii. CLOSED (tonic state) when at rest. RELAXES for bolus when active

ii i. Prevents backflow of food and air from entering esophagus

g. Esophagus: collapsed muscular tube i. Bordered by UES and Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) ii. Sits behind trachea in front of C6

h. Significant Spaces i. Oral Cavity, Pharynx, ii. Larynx: ACTS AS A VALVE

1. Keeps air in lungs 2. Keeps food out of lungs

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3. Expels foreign substance from larynx/trachea 4. Located C3-C6 5. Borders

a. Anterior=Epiglottis b. Lateral=aryepiglottic folds & arytenoids c. Inferior= vocal folds

ii i. Lateral Sulcus: space between cheeks and gum iv. Anterior Sulcus: space between bottom lip & teeth v. Valleculae: base of tongue + superior portion of epiglottis vi. Pyriform Sinuses: space between arytenoids and posterior

pharyngeal wall. vii. Aditus: Opening to the larynx aka laryngeal vestibule viii. Ventricles: (2) space between false & true vocal folds ix. Glottis: space between vocal folds

i. Salivary Glands i. Parotid ii. Submandibular ii i. Sublingual

j. Role of Saliva i. Neutralize stomach acid ii. Prevent tooth decay iii. Aid in digestion iv. Facilitate taste v. Contribute to cohesion of the bolus vi. Helps clear residue

XIV. Physiology of the Normal Swallow a. Oral Prep Phase (voluntary)

i. Sensory recognition of food approaching mouth and being placed into mouth

ii. Labial seal retains food in mouth ii i. If it’s a liquid…

1. Bolus is held between tongue and ant. Hard palate. 2. Sides of tongue seal against lateral alveolus 3. Tipper: bolus held between midline of tongue and

hard palate with tongue tip elevate and touching alv. Ridge

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4. Dipper: bolus is held on floor of the mouth in front of the tongue

iv. If it’s solid food…. 1. The tongue transports the food to the surface of

the molars where it is crushed in a rotary fashion. 2. The action stimulates the saliva glands whose

secretions lubricate the bolus for easier transport and enhance its shape.

a. Bolus viscosity dictates the amount of mastication necessary.

b. Oral Phase (voluntary) 1-1.5 seconds i. Initiated when tongue beings to move bolus posteriorly

1. “Stripping action”: midline of tongue sequentially squeezes bolus posteriorly against hard palate.

ii. Moves the readied bolus to the point where the swallow response is triggered. The tongue moves the bolus posteriorly as its edges make contact with the hard palate.

iii. The amount of pressure behind the bolus increases as it moves toward the pharynx (an area of lower pressure).

iv. The velum also elevates to seal the off nasopharynx, thus preventing nasal regurgitation.

v. The vallecular spaces split the bolus into half and it travels down the lateral channels.

c. Pharyngeal Phase (involuntary) i. Begins after the head of the bolus passes

between the anterior faucial pillars, 1. Which sends sensory information to the nucleus

ambiguous and triggers the pharyngeal swallow response.

ii. The pharyngeal swallow causes the velum to elevate and retract and results in closure of the velopharyngeal port.

1. This closure increases the pressure behind the bolus.

2. The base of the tongue acts as a ramp and makes contact with the posterior pharyngeal wall in order to pass the bolus into the pharynx.

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3. Hyoid and larynx elevate and move anteriorly 4. Larynx closes 5. Cricopharyngeal sphincter opens

d. Esophageal Phase (involuntary) 3-20 seconds i. The esophageal phase is signaled by the bolus entering

the UES. ii. Subsequently, the esophagus’ contractions result in a

sequential pushing of the bolus downward (known as the peristaltic wave).

iii. This continues until the bolus reaches the lower esophageal sphincter, which responds by opening and permitting the bolus to enter the stomach

XV. 5 levels of Airway protection Structure Location Action True & False Vocal folds

Larynx Closes airway by adducting

Hyoid Bone with attached Larynx

Larynx Elevates and moves anteriorly

Epiglottis & arytenoids

Larynx Hyolaryngeal excursion causes epiglottis to invert. Arytenoids rock inward & forward to narrow space in vestibule

Vallecular spaces Oropharynx Split bolus and direct down lateral channels

XVI. Hyolaryngeal Excursion a. Upward & forward pull of hyoid & larynx (superior, anterior) b. Enlarges pharynx; helps close larynx c. Creates vacuum in hypolarynx pulling bolus downward d. Helps PE segment relax

XVII. 3 Mechanisms contributing to PES opening a. Central Nervous System reacts to pharyngeal contraction by

relaxing it. b. Mechanical traction (pulling) from laryngeal excursion

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c. Edge of bolus reaches top of CP segment and adds downward pressure causing the opening to widen.

 **POSTIVE  pressure  is  always  behind  the  bolus;  NEGATIVE  pressure  is  always  in  front.  Bolus  naturally  wants  to  move  from  place  of  higher  pressure  to  lower  

pressure***    

Cranial Nerves Involved in Swallowing NERVE? FUNCTION? What’s affected if it’s

impaired? CN V. Trigeminal Chewing Muscles

Velum Muscles that power Hyolaryngeal excursion (infrahyoids) Touch, pressure & temp from anterior 2/3 of tongue Sensory info from face, mouth and mandible

Oral prep phase -Issues chewing -Mechanics of chewing stimulate salivary gland -Won’t feel anything at the front 2/3 of tongue Oral Phase -Velum doesn’t raise up=nasal regurgitation Pharyngeal Phase -impaired hyolaryngeal excursion

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CN. VII Facial Labial muscles (seal and take a bite) Buccal Muscles Taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue 2 salivary glands (sublingual & submandibular)

Oral prep phase -Flaccid cheek= residue in lateral sulcus -Poor labial seal=leakage & no intraoral pressure to help drive bolus back Oral phase -Little/no saliva= poor bolus cohesion; dry mouth with lots of residue No taste to front 2/3 of tongue

CN. IX Glossopharyngeal

Helps with Constrictors All sensation of post. 1/3 of tongue Touch & temp in oropharynx 1 salivary gland (parotid)

No upper pharyngeal constriction=increased chance of nasal regurgitation & increased likelihood of aspiration before and after swallow Limited hyolaryngeal excursion Not taste in back tongue No saliva from parotid gland

CN X. Vagus Muscles in larynx & pharynx Pharyngeal Constrictors Intrinsic Laryngeal Sensory portion of trachea, pharynx, larynx & esophagus

Limited or insufficient pharyngeal constriction Limited or insufficient vf adduction=increased chance of aspiration Impaired sensation to major structures= NO COUGH REFLEX

CN XI. Accessory (cranial branch)

Depresses velum Innervates sup. Pharyngeal constrictor Helps CX with muscles

Velum wont depress & make contact with BOT= liquid bolus doesn’t stay in mouth=aspiration on thin liquids Impaired pharyngeal constriction

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CN XII. Hypoglossal

Extrinsic & Intrinsic lingual muscles

No “stripping action” Tongue won’t move bolus posteriorly to next phase Lack of bolus manipulation=sensory info being sent

I. Components of the Swallowing Center

a. Nucleus Tractus Solitarus i. Integrates sensory info on touch, taste and temp ii. Receives afferent info from cranial nerves iii. Communicates it to Nucleus Ambiguous

b. Nucleus Ambiguous i. Sends efferent info to cranial nerves ii. Sends signal

II. Characteristics of Neurologic Injuries a. Reduced Sensitivity to aspiration b. Fatigue impacts performance

III. Sudden Onset Neurologic Injuries i. CVA Hemispheric

1. Sensory loss in pharynx 2. Reduced saliva 3. Reduced pharyngeal contraction 4. PES dysfunction 5. Impaired LES relax

ii. CVA-Brainstem 1. Severe delay in pharyngeal swallow 2. Reduced hyolaryngeal, oropharyngeal excursion 3. Decreased CP opening

iii. Spinal Cord Injury: 1. Pharyngeal dysphagia (typically)

a. Delay in pharyngeal swallow trigger b. Reduced laryngeal excursion c. Reduced BOT motion d. Reduced laryngeal closure

iv. TBI 1. Dysphagia occurs due to neurologic damage

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2. Physical trauma to head/neck 3. Delay in pharyngeal swallow trigger

IV. Degenerative Conditions i. Dementia of Alzheimer’s Type

1. Food agnosia (recognition) 2. Swallowing & feeding apraxia 3. Oral prep phase & oral phase 4. Pharyngeal delay & laryngeal 5. Reduced BOT

ii. Parkinson’s Disease 1. Piecemeal deglutition 2. Buccal retention 3. Vallecular & pyriform sinus residue 4. Reduced laryngeal elevation 5. Penetration/aspiration 6. PES dysfunction

iii. Polymyelitis: muscular dystrophy iv. ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

1. Reduced tongue mobility, lip closure anterior velar bulging, pharyngeal wall contraction

2. Reduction in laryngeal elevation 3. Delay in pharyngeal swallow

V. Cerebral Palsy a. Oral dysfunction: reflexes b. Pharyngeal dysphagia

References:

Crary, M. & Groher, M. (2003). Introduction to Adult Swallowing Disorders.

Missouri: Elsevier.

Logemann, J. A. (1997). Evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders.

(2nd Ed.). Texas: PRO- ED.